CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

SPACE – KORRIBAN

Shadellis had set the ship down and immediately let Kaliyo handle things, racing back towards the entry. Teffa had been too forcibly calm, and she could hear the underlying tone that said he was shaken by whatever had happened. A swell of fear rose up within her that she had been fighting against. She had seen the explosion. What it meant was unknown to her, but she could only imagine the worst had Necrolis faced Marr.

She watched as Bloodshade boarded the craft, coming down the hallway as she ripped the skull-like helmet from her head and threw with across the room to let it bounce off the bulkhead and spin across the floor. The jawa and deshade came next right behind her. It struck Shadellis then as she saw the creature, saw that he seemed deflated that whatever had happened, it was grim. Asha followed closely by Kira and Tormen came aboard next, all three sad and looking down. Torian still had his helmet on but his shoulders were slumped as he found a spot along a wall and slid down it to sit. Jaesa was pounding her fists on Pierce's back, crying and upset as he carried her aboard, behind them coming Aela and Quinn.

"Aela?" Shadellis made her sister's name a question but only got a meek look as if she had been kicked in the stomach. Shadellis began to feel ill, even as she noted Malavai Quinn seemed almost ashen.

Teffa Darkstar came aboard last, cradling in his arms the sobbing form of Vette. Shadellis stared and she almost threw up as she realized the worst had happened. Teffa passed by her without a word, setting Vette down and then stepping back as Aela and Bloodshade moved to her to be with her. Removing his helmet Teffa stood unmoving, and Shadellis could see the muscles along his neck pulsing. She was not at all surprised when he bellowed out a deep throated cry and hurled the helmet into the wall at the far end of the room.

Shadellis moved up behind her brother, placing a hand on his arm. Teffa stared at it for a moment before looking up and back to her. Turning to face her, Teffa wore a furrowed brow, jaw clenched hard and tight as he fought against his anger. Shadellis knew they had never really been close, but there was no changing the past to fix that. Everything had changed now though, she knew. Reaching up she placed a hand to his cheek.

"He's…" Teffa tried to get the words out, but failed even as he blinked hard and fought his emotions.

"He's gone." Shadellis said the words for him, feeling the tears come even as she threw her arms about her brother and hugged him tight.

Shadellis wiped at her cheeks as she pulled back from the embrace. She had never cried before and she was not sure why she did now. Even with all she had been through and faced, she had never shed a tear. It seemed so needless and pointless, and yet this time was different. She would never hear him call her Shaddy, never have that unwavering support. No more would she have that powerful sith brother to step in and protect her. He was gone, and that fact, that awareness of how empty a space that had been created was, overwhelmed her.

The chiss looked immediately to Vette. She was curled up, feet drawn in, legs to her chest and head down to hide her face. She could hear her sobs as she cried. Shadellis frowned as seeing and hearing her grief only drove the moment home all the more. It seemed as if a piece of her had been ripped from her, a wound that could not heal ever.

Teffa stared at his sister then turned to cast a glance back at Vette for a moment. He felt the anger swell, the bitterness of the loss. Moving away from the others he pressed both hands against the wall and leaned into it, head down as he grit his teeth. He did not want to face Vette. There were no words he knew to say to ease her pain. Facing the others, he just could not do it and keep his own emotions in check. He was so lost in his thoughts and trying to hold back his feelings, he almost jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking back he saw it was Aela.

"You okay?" Aela asked, though she knew well enough her brother was far from okay.

Teffa stared at her, tried to say something, anything, only to find no words would come. Every time he made to speak he couldn't, brow furrowing and eyes looking at her haunted and pained. Aela nodded back to him, taking his face in her hands and looking at him pointedly.

"It's okay." Aela said softly. "Don't let it eat you alive inside, Teffa."

Teffa shook his head and lightly smacked a fist against the wall. It was more just an act of frustration than it was actually punching, but it made him feel better. Sighing, Teffa gave his sister a small smile before turning and heading towards the cockpit. He wanted to get on the communication station and call the foundry. For some reason he just wanted to hear Mako's voice all of the sudden.

Kaliyo saw the bounty hunter enter and nodded to him, even as she guided the ship away from Korriban and plotted a course back to the foundry. Teffa acknowledged the ratattaki with a nod. He stood there watching the woman a moment until she had the ship jump into hyperspace. Once that had been completed, Kaliyo rose and faced him.

"Want some privacy huh?" She stated and winked at him. "All good with me, big guy."

"Thanks." Teffa muttered.

"It's that bad, huh?" Kaliyo said as she paused in the doorway, giving the bounty hunter a softer look.

"You could say that."

KORRIBAN

Pyrannus growled as the medical droid poked at her side. She could already tell she was bruised, the white fur hiding it but seeming duller than its usual color. She had taken a pounding, but she was alive and breathing, and in the end Necrolis Darkstar was not. She was still not happy that she had been deprived of the pleasure of that kill. Fighting the Wrath had been infectious and intoxicating. She knew she had held her own well enough. Glancing over, she noted the pure blooded sith on the other examination table. Part of her wanted to claw his face off, the other to kiss him. That was assuming he had protected her as her sister had said. While she had no reason to doubt Pumirra, she had to wonder why he would do such at all.

The cathar tried to stretch and winced as she felt every tight muscle protest the sudden movement. Growling again, she knew she would have to take it easy. The sooner I'm away from this poking droid the better, she thought even as the medical droid continued its examination. Once more she cast a glance over to the other sith. Looking at him, she then glanced towards the medical display behind him at the head of the exam table. She could see the head and neck area marked, as well as the shoulder and left side also lit and marked with orange light. He certainly had taken a beating right along with her.

Raistlis grunted as the droid poked down his left side, he guessed trying to count his ribs and determine how many were broken. Just tape them all up, he thought sourly, not really caring at all. He had barely been conscious when the pulse of force energy slammed into all of them. After that the next thing he remembered was waking up in the medical facilities within the sith academy. His head hurt most of all, but he knew he had other injuries to mark his failure. Catching Pyrannus' glances over, he slowly turned his head, before giving up when it hurt too much and shifted to where he could see her better.

"You look like I feel." Pyrannus said with a smirk to him. "Guess we both came away disappointed."

"I faced him, he knows where it stands between us." Raistlis gave a slight shrug at the cathar as he answered back. "My only regret is I did not finish the job."

"You're more fortunate that Marr finally allowed me to fight him." Pyrannus stated with a shake of her head. "You were not ready. Don't kid yourself."

"I won't if you won't." Raistlis shot back at her, words tinged with an edge of annoyance.

Pyrannus laughed even as she pushed her own medical droid away to move over and look at his injuries for herself. He had suffered a concussion, which was not too surprising. He had also cracked a pair of vertebrae. Added to that was a dislocated shoulder and at least three cracked ribs on his left side. He had certainly shown Nercrolis who he was alright. He had shown him he was a punching bag.

"So what does it feel like to be bested and fail?" Raistlis asked, poking at the cathar, though in truth he was not sure why he had said such at all.

"I don't know." Pyrannus turned to face him, leaning on the side of her examination table, arms crossing over her chest. "I am quite sure though you can tell me all about it!"

"Fuck you!" Raistlis growled in annoyance. He made to hop off the table to confront her, but found the room began to spin and he settled for propping himself up on one arm, leaning against the table.

"When you are feeling better." Pyrannus purred with a grin before licking her lips as she moved over and pressed against him lightly. Leaning in close, she whispered into his ear. "I owe you from what I hear, and I don't like having outstanding debts."

SPACE – HUTT SPACE

Tobrian Szen heard the ping of the holonet computer behind him as he guided the ship towards Nar Shaddaa. He had managed to sell most of his cargo, and turn a tidy profit at that. In fact he had managed to do better than he had in a very long time. It was a welcome change, and one he knew was the sole handiwork of his new partner. Her talents had not gone to waste, and a sith who had no compulsion about using aggressive negotiations when needed, or a subtle force suggestion on a weak minded buyer had brought in more credits. Loun was proving to be quite useful, and being easy on the eyes and enjoying her flesh was of course not bad either.

When the computer chimed again, the devaronian sighed and spun the command chair about to take a look. He had programmed the system to keep him updated on major news that came out of either faction, the Empire or the Republic. He had even made sure to monitor the Hutt Cartel channels just so he did not miss any opportunity.

"I sense another opportunity." Loun remarked with a smirk as she strolled into the cockpit and slipped herself into the man's lap.

Tobrian allowed himself the momentary distraction as the pure blooded sith woman entered. As she had a habit of doing when it was just the two of them on the ship, she was naked. She knew he liked it, and it did make it all the easier for him to grab and enjoy her when the urge hit. She had even enjoyed it a few times, he knew.

"Perhaps." Tobrian said, letting a hand caress over her soft warm side.

Loun arched an eyebrow before peering over at the blinking telltale light on the terminal. She had wandered up expecting news of some sort. She had felt the ripples in the force and knew something had happened. She did not know what, or where, but something had cast a wide effect across the galaxy through the force.

"So let's see if we can't make a few more creds now hmm?" Loun said with a sultry tone, reaching a hand up to teasingly stroke the dark horns of the man's head. "Unless you want to just go ahead and bend me over the console again?"

Tobrian growled low and let his hand move down to smack the woman's ass cheek lightly at her comment. There was no mistaking his hardness as it pressed against her. She had a body that was made for pleasure, he knew firsthand. He had indeed enjoyed her well, and would do so again he knew. Teasing him with the thought, Tobrian almost could swear she wanted it to happen right then and there.

"I think we shall see about the news first." The slaver commented. "Business before pleasure my sweet sith morsel."

Tobrian waved to the computer for the sith to do the honours, settling back and just enjoying the sight of her shifting in his lap and stretching her lithe form out to tap the button. The screen lit up with news from the Imperial channels. Loun gasped and then shifted fully forward to lean in and read. Tobrian pressed forward to her back also reading over the news that was coming across. The devaronian read down through the bulletin, noting there was a death on Korriban, the sith home world. Lower it mentioned a ceremony to honour the fallen on Dromund Kaas. Tobrian began to smell credits.

Loun glanced over the report then slowly read it again, noting no names were given. She did not need to have a name to know what had happened. The disturbance in the force told her what she needed to know. Necrolis had faced Marr. He had gone to Korriban and had died. If Marr had fallen it would have been far bigger news, and not kept nameless. A longstanding Dark Council member passing was galactic news. Necrolis was dead. Even as she thought it, something did not feel right at all to her. If one such has he had fallen, it should have made a more intimate connection through the force with her, she thought.

Even as she felt Tobrian shift back to lounge in the chair, feeling his fingers tracing down her skin along the line of her spine, Loun knew she had to reach Korriban. It would indeed be easier if Tobrian were in a good mood, all the easier too if he thought there was a chance to turn a quick profit. There were still a handful of slaves he could sell.

Slipping slowly from the devaronian slavers lap, Loun moved with a seductive sway of bare hips over to the console, draping herself against it. Arching slightly she let her ass rise and legs spread apart giving him full view of her sex, and leaving herself fully open to him.

"Before you plot the course to Korriban, might as well enjoy yourself more." Loun said, looking at him over her shoulder and batting her eyes at him.

Even as he moved towards her fumbling with his belt and pants, Loun grinned. All too easy, she thought.

SPACE - THE SHADOW

In hyperspace and on their way back to meet up with the others, the Shadow streaked forward to carry them home. Home, Teffa thought, realizing in such a short time that the foundry base had in fact come to be just that. Settled in the communications chair, Teffa had stared at the console, unable to just hit the button despite wanting to. Finally he realized he needed to just go and do it. He needed to hear Mako's voice. Tapping the button, Teffa watched as the light pulsed twice before it was answered and the holo display came to life with the image of his wife.

"Hi! You miss me?" Mako asked with a smile, only to have it fade when she saw Teffa's strained face.

"Hey." Teffa said, all he could seem to get out.

"So it's true." Mako said and sighed. She had of course been monitoring the holonet and already come across news from Korriban. She had suspected, but seeing Teffa's face confirmed it. Necrolis was dead. "News is getting out already."

"Yeah, damn holonet." Teffa said quietly and then sighed. Shaking his head he tried to smile as he looked at her holo image. "Sorry, it really is good to just see you and hear your voice."

"You too. I was worried about you." Mako admitted and smiled softly. "I will be far happier when you get your big armoured ass back here."

"We're enroute now." Teffa answered and chuckled.

Mako smiled and then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She could tell he was taking the events hard. He hid things well, but she had learned how to read him far too well. The signs were there if you knew how to read them. She wished she could just reach through the holo terminal and hug him. He seemed like he really could have used such. It made her even mentioning things all the worse.

"I know you too well, beautiful." Teffa remarked as he watched her. "What have you got?"

Mako laughed a little and shook her head. I can read him, but he knows me far too well himself.

"I got a time coded message. I've not played it yet. It had instructions to be played when you all returned from Korriban." Mako explained and frowned. "You know who sent it."

"That sly son of a hutt." Teffa swore and shook his head. Always the planner, always having everything covered. Necrolis left nothing to chance, he knew.

"I'll have it ready for when you get here." Mako advised before frowning again and looking at her husband. "How's Vette?"

"Not good at all." Teffa said and frowned himself. "None of us are, Mako."

"I know." Mako answered back. "I love you."

Teffa smiled and nodded to his wife. He was still mulling over the recorded message. Finally he came to a decision.

"Mako, get those there together. Patch it through to the holo terminal here in Shadellis' ship. Lets just get it over with. Delaying it only draws it out."

"You're the boss." Mako remarked and set about doing just that. Teffa's words stopped her and made her smile.

"I love you too, Mako."

The main cabin of the Shadow was a bit cramped, but other than Kaliyo staying in the cockpit, everyone was present. Malavai Quinn sat with Blizz and Bloodshade on the small bench couch. Khem Val, never far from Bloodshade's side, stood beside the end of the couch keeping close. Pierce sat on the floor, back pressed to a wall, Jaesa nestled in his lap. The sith's golden eyes peered out from the depths of her hood that she was keeping well drawn over her face. Asha stood off to the side, blue eyes casting a look about at everyone. Kira and Tormen sat on the floor beside her, the smuggler's arm draped over the woman's shoulder protectively. Aela Darkstar sat close to the corner where Vette had settled herself and not moved from. The twi'lek still had her head down and had closed herself off from any interaction.

Seeing them all gathered, Teffa went over and nodded to Shadellis who stood by the holo terminal. With everything ready, the chiss opened the channel to Mako. The holo image flickered a moment, then Necrolis Darkstar stood visible from head to toe. Teffa took a long deep breath as he stared at the image of his brother. Here we go, he thought.

"If you are watching this, then Mako got the message and I am not with all of you. Assuming she followed the instructions I left. Teffa if she didn't, you get to handle such." The image of Necrolis stated.

"I went into this knowing this was my destiny. I knew what I was up against. Do not lament my passing, just remember what you all meant to me. It was a simple, easy choice. Vette, you above all, I know are hurting. Just know that I love you, and I am always with you. Now there are a few things I need to address here.

My crew, Vette included, I could not have had any better. You all are indeed family. Aela, my sister, I can think of no other who is as close with them. I ask that you take over leading them. I know they, and you, have a trust and understanding that no replacement the Empire might try and impart could have.

Teffa, my brother, I asked you to take on a burden I know you are not comfortable with. You have never been. You can, however, do such. I know such, and know you are capable. Remember when it seems darkest to follow your passion, your instincts.

To those of the Republic side… I cannot do anything more than say stay safe. I ask both sides to try and not fight and kill one another, as we are family, but this conflict is what it is.

Finally, to my sisters, Shaddy and Asha. I have burdened you, I know, but the tasks I have asked of you need to be taken care of and I can only trust in you both to carry it out."

With that the image cut out and the recording ended. Teffa frowned, casting a questioning look to both Shadellis and Asha, but neither woman seemed keen on speaking up and elaborating. Teffa had a hunch it was simply better not to ask. Hearing the sobs, Teffa looked over to see Vette's shoulders shaking once more as she fell victim to her pain and emotion once more.

Kira leaned into Tormen before looking over and seeing the little jawa had both hands to his face and was shaking. It took a moment to realize Blizz was crying. Nudging Tormen, Kira motioned over to the little creature. Tormen looked and nodded, hand rising to stroke his goatee as he took everything in and then sighed.

"I don't get it." Kira said in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Asha asked, hearing her, then looking over to Blizz and back.

"I don't get why Blizz is crying." Kira said softly. "It's sad but he wasn't part of Necrolis' crew, he didn't really know him, not like, say Vette."

"He isn't crying for himself." Tormen said softly drawing both their attention to him. Glancing at them both, Tormen shook his head and then elaborated. "Teffa won't give in to such, especially with all of us around. He won't mourn Necrolis' death. Blizz is not crying for himself, he's crying for Teffa because he can't."

Asha took in the words of the smuggler then looked to the jawa and felt her own eyes well up once more.